Barbecue device



Many 19, 1953 c.`P. MOLLA BARBECUE DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1949 PatentedMay 19, 1953 Charles P. lMolla, New Hyde Park, N. Y., assignor to MollaIncorporated,` New York, N. Y., a cor-y poratonfof New York ApplicationDecember 8, 1949, Serial No. 131,808

This invention relates to what is commonly referred to as a barbecuedevice. More particularly, the invention deals with a Adevice `of thecharacter described employing a fuel supporting tray of openworkconstruction with means comprising a pair'of parallel elongated rods atopposed sides comms. (ci. 12s-25) of the tray and on the framework ofthe devi-'ce fory adjusting the tray into numerous positions `in thedevice incontrolling broiling of food disposed upon a grill at theframework of the device. Still moreparticularly, the invention dealswithadevic'ey of the character described khaving means for producing aforced draught to stimulate the burning of thefuel in the tray,particularly in the early stages of developing and producing a bed ofhot coals.l

The novel features of the invention ,will be best understood from thefollowing descriptiomwhen taken together with'the accompanying drawing,inwhich certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and,'inwhich, the separate parts are designated by ysuitable referencecharactersv in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device made according to my invention,with parts of the conf upper portion of t'her struction broken awayV andwith parts in section;' f

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line l2 --2 ofA Fig. 1. 'y Inbarbecue devices of the lind under consideration, which may be termedportable barbecues that can be moved about from place t0 place, it isthe usual custom to provide a fixed flrebox or fuel supportingmember'which has a definite or fixed positioning and spacing withrespect to the grill which necessitates the shifting of food about onthe grill ,in order to control the proper preparation of the food.`

My improved device employs means, such for example as a-shiftablefuelsupporting tray, which makes it possible to Vmove the fireintodifferent, positionsin the apparatusto control the preparation ofIthe food without the necessity of having to shift the food from placetoplace over the grill, particularly when it is desired to simply keepprepared food Warm.

In the accompanying one adaptation of my invention and, in the drawing,I0 represents arectangular frame comprising an upper border frame II ofL-shaped or angleiron cross-sectionalfform, the flange v'I2 of which isdirected inwardly to form a supporting Aflange for an outwardlyextending flangeedge I3 onv a box-shaped casing part I4. The frameIllalso includes a lower rectangular frame' I5, substandrawing, Ihavefshown 2 q tially similar to the frame I I, joined to and spacedfrom the frame II by angleiron corner risers I6, the latterbeing weldedto the frames I I and I5.

`Detachably Secured to the 'corner' portions of the frame I5 are legmembers I1 which have upper L-shaped vportions I8 bolted to the frameI5. Depending from the L-shaped portions I8 are three angularly disposedrods I9 united at their lo'wer `ends infdisc-type feet 20. yIny thisconnection, it will be understood that 'anyv type of foot or basesupport can ibe provided.

rAdjustably and detachably supported with'the v frame IIJ 0r fthe casingI4 thereof is what I will termed inverted-F icutouts, generally identiedby the reference characters 25. These cutouts comprise a long horizontaltop slot 26, a somewhat-shorter intermediate slot 21 and still shorterlower ysl-o't 28. The slots v26, 21 and 28 communi# cate with a'vertical'slot 29 and it will appear that the slots 26 and 21 cross the'verticalslot 29't`o formsuppo'rting" ends 30, 3'I,re spectively, which areslightly depressed to retain rods in the firebox, later described, inardenite position." The slotsI 26, 21 have corresponding depressions atthe other side of the vertical slots,- as at 30', 23|' for the samepurpose. 'f The slots 26 are so-arranged on the walls 23,' 23' as `tofacilitate adjustment of the firebox unit 2I in different positionsacross the frame and this, in combination with the back and forthmovement of the rebox unit, facilitates positioning lof the fireboxproper 32 into numerous positions over the entire area of the'frame I0.

The rebox`32 is formed from stamped sheet metal and is of openworkstructure having diamond-shaped openings 33 and thesheet is presseddownwardly -to form a bottom wall 34 and upwardly and outwardly flaredside walls Ward endsof the rods have detachable handle. Amembersofinsulating material, asy at 39. The

structure is suchv that the rods 31 can `be pulled through'lgandldetached from one of the walls, forexample, the wall 23', when the'stops 38 are removed and then pulled through the other wall when thehandles 39 are removed. This construction facilitates collapsing of theentire barbecue device, keeping in mind that'the legs l1 are alsodetachable.

The grill 22 is in the form of a rectangular rod frame 40 having aseries of parallel strips or rods 4I` weldedto sides of the vframe '40.The grill seats in the upper frame Il` r upon` the flange I3 of thecasing I4. The side wall 24 has a large opening 42 centrally thereof andthe opposed wall 24 has a series of small vent openings 43. At 44 isshown a blower or fan device comprising a casing-45, in which Vismounted a large gear 46, on an axis'4'l which,

outwardly of the casing, is an operating crank 48.

Acorner posts, legs detachable with respect to the frame, a casingdetachably mounted upon *the upper angleiron member of the frame,

vIn the upper portion of the casing-isa anshaft 49, to which is secureda pinionV 50' which meshes with the gear 46. On the shaft 49.is amovable blade fan 5| which is adapted to be positioned `in alinementwith the-faperture 42, so that in rotating this -fan atlhigh speedthrough ythe medium of the crank 48, air can mtermittently be blownacross the casing. I4-to periodically stimulate the burning ofthe fuelinthe rebox 2|.

1 On the back of the casing` 45A,- adjacent the lower end thereof, are..a. pair of depending hooks'52 adapted` to .engage thev lowerframe t5and, at. the top=of the casing 45, is a clamp 53 for securing the fanunit 44Yrmly in position on'the upper frame H..

By` being abletofshift the rein the'iirebox proper 32 into differentpositions over fthev area of the casing or pan I4, the rlre can beconcentrated to dii'erentl areas of thegrill 2,2- in intense or quickcooking. of food products thereorgwhile other areasv maybe util-izedy tosimply keep the food warm. Furthermore, the'rebox can'. beidropped'in-to engagement withrthe. slots 2-1. and adjusted -intodifferent-positions, but here the radiation spreads to a greater extentand the intensity' of heat,` is.4 minimized.

NVhen` it isdesired toprovide slowv cooking or simply maintain cookedfoodin a. warm state, the -rebox-'can be loweredfor engagement with thelower slots 2l.

' Having :fully described my invention, what'. I claim as new'- and`desire to; -secureby Letters Patent is:

1.'.-A barbecue device of theI class described, comprisingv arectangular` frame, defined Vby upper and lower angleiron members joinedby corner-posts, legs'detacl'ia-ble with respect tothe trame, a casing'detachablylmountedf;upon the upper. angleiron member Yof, theframet-opposed walls of the' casing having pairs of'fsubstantiallyinvertedr` F-shaped apertures, the aperturesfin onel Wall being inalinement with :those of the opposed-wall, a-iirebox unitincludingyajpair ot rods movably mounted inv lsaid*,aperturesk toadj,ust1the position of therebox hor-'.izontally4 and -vertically inthe.casing,.andy a grill detachablymountedon the upper end `portion oit? thecasing.

2. A,` barbecue device ofthev classfdescribedl, comprising a`rectangular frame, .defined by upper and-lower angleiron membersv joinedby corner posts, `legs .detachable-with respectl to the frame,r acasingdetachably mounted upon the upper angleiron member of the frame,Iopposed walls of the casing havingv pairs. of substantially invertedF-shapedapertures the apertures in one wall being. in alinement withthose ofthe opposed Wall,. a 'r'ebox `unit including .opposedy walls ofthe casing having pairs of `substantially inverted F-shaped apertures,the .apertures in one ywall being in alinement with those of the opposedwall, a rebox unit including a pair of rods movably mounted in saidapertures to adjust the position of the iirebox horizontally andvertically in the casing, a grill detachably mounted on the upper endportion ofthe casing-said firebox comprising. an openwork. receptaclehaving upwardly flaring side and end walls, and the ends of therods ofthe firebox unit hav-ing detachable members.

4.-.A barbecue device of the class described, comprising arectangularframe, defined by upper andlowerangleiron .members joined by cornerposts, le'gsdetachable with respect to the frame, aacasing detachablymounted upon the upper angleiron. member. of the frame, opposed walls ofthe casing having pairs of substantially inverted F-shaped apertures,the apertures in one wall being in alinement with those of the opposedwall, a iirebox unit including a pair of rods movablymounted in saidapertures to adjust the-position of the rebox. horizontally andvertically in the casing, a grill detachably mounted on the upper endportion of the casing,

. said rebox comprising an-openwork receptacle havingupwardly flaringside and end walls, the ends of the rods ofthe rebox unit havingdetachable members, other opposed Wallsof said casing being provided onewith a large ventilating. aperture and the other withsmall ventapertures, and means detachably mounted in connection with the frame forsupporting a fan unit in registering positionwith said large aperture. l

5- A barbecue device of the class described, comprising a rectangularframe, defined by upper and lower angleironmembers joined by cornerposts, legs detachable with respect to the frame, a casingdetachablymounted upon the upper angleiron member of the frame, opposed walls offthecasing having pairs of substantially inverted F-shaped apertures,the apertures in one wall being in alinement with those of the opposedwall, a lrebox unit including a pair of rodsvmovably mountedin saidapertures to adjust 'the positionY of the firebox horizontally andvertically in the casing, a grill detachably mounted on the upper endportion `of the casing, said' 'rebox comprising an openwork receptaclehaving. upwardly flaring side and end walls, the ends of the rods of'the iirebox unit having detachable members, other opposed walls of saidcasing beingv provided one with a large ventilatingaperture and theother with small vent apertures, means. detachably mounted in connectionwith the frame for supporting a fan unit in registering position withsaidlarge aperture, said fan `unit comprising a casing, means on the fancasing for engaging the lower angleiron member ofthe frame, and meansdetachably coupling,

the upper end of the fan casing with the upper f adjust the position ofthe rebox horizontally and vertically in the casing, a grill detachablymounted on the upper end portion of the casing, and means detachablewith respect to the frame for'providing a forced draught for theFirebox.

'7. A barbecue device of the class described,

comprising a rectangular frame, defined by upperr and lower angleironmembers joined by corner posts, legs detachable with respect to theframe, a casing detachably mounted upon the upper angleiron member ofthe frame, opposed walls kof the casing having pairs of substantiallyinverted F-shaped apertures, the apertures in one wall being inalinement with those 4of the opposed wall, a iirebox unit including apair of rods movably mounted in said apertures to adjust the position ofthe rebox horizontally and vertically in'the casing, a grill detachablymounted on the upper end portion of the casing, means detachable withrespect to the frame for providing a forced draught for the rebox, andsaid last named means comprising a fan unit.

8. A barbecue device of the class described, comprising a box-shapedupper casing portion, legs depending from the casing, a iirebox unitarranged in said casing and of a cross-sectional area considerably lessthan the corresponding area ofthe casing for free horizontal movementtherein, and means on the firebox unit engaging vertically spacedintercommunicating apertures on opposed walls of the casing foradjustably supporting the rebox unit, whereby, when the device is inuse, said unit can be adjusted into different horizontal and verticalpositions in controlling the preparation of food without removal of thereboX from said casing.

9. A barbecue device of the class described, comprising a box-shapedupper casing portion, legs depending from said casing, a rebox unitarranged in said casing and of a cross-sectional area considerably lessthan the corresponding area or" the casing for free horizontal movementtherein. means on the ilreloox unit engaging vertically spacedintercommunicating apertures on opposed walls of the casing foradjustably supporting the nrebox unit, whereby, when the device is inuse, said unit can be adjusted into different horizontal and verticalpositions in controlling the preparation of food without removal of therlrebox from said casing, and means providing a forced circulation ofair in the casing and around the rebox unit.

CHARLES P. MOLLA.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS y NumberName Date 174,650 Williams Mar. 14, 1876 1,069,802 Mokry Aug. 12, 19132,033,898 Krebs Mar. 10, 1936 2,221,098 Langsam Nov.- 12, 1940 2,349,617Gorman May 23, 1944 2,425,036 Howe Aug. 5, 1947 2,511,594 Loffredo June13, 1950

